Legislation

The National Coalition for Public Education (NCPE) opposes any amendments to H.R. 5, "the Student Success Act," that would permit federally funded private school vouchers.(June 18, 2013)The National Coalition for Public Education (NCPE) opposes any amendments or substitutes to the "Strengthening America's Schools Act" NABE endorsed along with many of our partners to taking away limited federal funds from our public schools to support vouchers.The Dream ACTWhite House Fact Sheet on the DREAM Act:Good For Our Economy, Good For Our Security, Good For Our Nation

No Child Left Behind Act (2002)
This is the latest reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, covering most federal programs aiding K-12 schools.

Title III provides formula grants for English learner programs, to be distributed by states on a per-capita basis and requires annual assessments of English proficiency. NCLB neither encourages nor prohibits native-language instruction, but it deletes from the ESEA all references to "bilingual education" and to "bilingualism" as an educational goal. Click here for an analysis of Title III.Title I provides funding to serve "disadvantaged" students and requires schools to make "adequate yearly progress" (AYP) toward full proficiency in language arts and math by 2014. Failure to make AYP brings increasingly harsh sanctions.

Bilingual Education Act (1994)
This was the fifth and final reauthorization of the law, also known as Title VII of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, first passed in 1968.

Title VII was designed to promote education excellence by awarding competitive grants directly to school districts for serving ELLs. Equally important, it placed strong emphasis on professional development programs both at the undergraduate and graduate levels.

Native American Languages Acts (1990 and 1992)
The 1990 version of this legislation adopted a broad policy statement requiring the federal government to support the preservation and revitalization of indigenous languages in the United States. The 1992 version created a grant program for that purpose in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Civil Rights Act (1964)Title VI of this law requires prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, sex, or national origin by recipients of government, including the public schools. Title VI was the legal basis for the Lau v. Nichols decision.